History of Against the Grain

2001 - Rob and Meredith Kendall had achieved the Amercican Dream but found their lives to be shallow and selfish.

January 2002 - Meredith asked Rob to take a year off of work and "figure out what God wants to do with this family.

March 2003 - Meredith attends a women's retreat and develops a relationship with a single mother living in generational poverty.

March 23, 2003 - Meredith returns from the retreat and tells Rob this young ladies story and in an instant, the vision of Against the Grain was born. The Kendall's committed to help this young mother break free from the negative life cycles that had held her in bondage by provding healthy relationships and biblical training.

June 4, 2003 - the Kendall's hosted a picnic and AtG grew from one mom with three kids to nine moms with 28 kids.

August 4, 2003 - AtG receives 501(c)(3) non-profit approval.

2003 - 2009 - AtG trained hundreds of women in Middle Tennesse to overcome their unique challenges with confidence and success and find dignity and purpose by becoming involved, contributing members of society.

January 2010 - AtG began providing training in the Williamson County Jail to both male and female inmates.

2010 - AtG trains 193 inmates in the Williamson County Jail

March 2010 - AtG is requested to train and equip other organizations, starting in Western Michigan.

2011 - AtG expands partnerships with other local jails, halfway houses, homeless shelters and recovery centers and trains over 500 people in Middle Tennesee.

2012 - over 750 people trained in Middle Tennessee with the addition of other county jails receiving training.

2012 - AtG adds 21 additional sites located in Michigan.

2013 - AtG trains over 900 people in Middle Tennessee.

2013 - Partner sites continue to grow with 15 new sites added.

Today AtG provides traiining in five local jails (Davidson and Williamson Counties) and several local halfway houses, rehab centers and crisis pregnancy centers with a recidivism rate of less than 10%.

Today AtG has 45 partners in eight states providing training to thousands of people who want to overcome abuse, addictions and negative cycles to live with dignity and purpose and achieve their unique God-given potential.